Combined self-adjusting night-latch and lock.



H. G. VOIGHT.

COMBINED SELF ADJUSTING NIGHT LATGH'AND LOCK. l APPLICATION FILED Aram', 191z,

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HENRY G. VVOIGrI-IJI, OE NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINED SELF-ADJUSTING NIGHT-LATCH AND LOCK.

Application filed April 27,

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY G. VoIcHT, a citizen of the'United States, residing at New Britainl Hartford county, Stateof Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Self-Adjusting Night-Latches and Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, and. exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in locks, and is particularly concerned with an improved combined night latch and lock.

The y,main object of the invention is to provide an improved means for effecting the any ready adjustment of the combined loc-k and latch to doors of dierent thicknesses.

The present invention is mainly an improvement upon the construction set forth in my former Patent No. 1,024,479, dated April 23rd, 1912. In that case, the 'construction is such that the combined night latch and lock may be applied to doors of different thicknesses, but in that case it is necessary to make a preliminary adjustment of themechanism before it is applied lto a door. In the present instance, the parts are, so to speak, self-adjusting to doors of 'different thicknesses in that-the mere act of applying the. mechanism, without preliminary adj ust' ment, will at once effect the adjustment of the parts, so that the said parts will assume a correct position relatively to the inner and outer faces of a door. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view o'f a door with my improved lock and latch applied thereto, certain parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the mechanism applied to a door of less thickness than that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the inner end of a finishing piece or keeper. Fig. 4 is a cross section thereof. Fig. 5'is an elevation of the outer end of. said finishing piece with the lock portion of my invention in place, partof said piece being broken away. Fig. 6 is a detail.

' 1 represents the case of a so-called night latch.

2 represents the bolt, in this Iinstance a spring latch bolt.

3 represents a knob suitably connected in well-known manner with the bolt 2, whereby the latter may be retracted upon operating the knob 3.

4 represents the bottom or base plate of Specification of Letters Patent.

,nesses,

D represents a door of one thickness,

Patented Oct. 22,1912.

1912. serial No. 693,645.

the case l. represents a spindle which passes throi lr a suitable opening in the back 4 of .iid case to make operative engagement in any suitable manner with the latch bolt so that when said spindle 5 is turned, the bolt 2 may be moved. This spindle 5 is operatively engaged with a keyrotatable element or plug 6. In the partcular form of mechanism shown, the lock is of the so-called pin cylinder type. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the plug 6 against turning excepting when a suitable key is inserted therein. By the use of a suitable key, the plug 6 may be released and turned so as to turn the spindle 5 and retract the bolt 2. Ordinarily the lock is provided with a suitable face-plate 7. In practice, when the parts are applied to a door, the case 1 is secured in the usual manner to the inner face of the door, and the face-plate 7 should be properly positioned relatively to the opposite face of the door; namely, the outside of the door. I have found it a very great advantage to combine the lock mechanism with the night latch mechanism as a substantially uhitary structure whereby the parts may be assembled and fitted at the factory ready for application to a door. In the ordinary night latch employing a cylinder lock, it is customary to first entirely separate these parts and then apply the night latch part to the inner surface of the door, after which the lock part is inserted through a passage in the door and then turned so as to screw it into 'a threaded opening in the back of the night latch. In the present instance, the combined latch and lock is applied bodily to the door, and the construction is such that it may be at once adapted to doors of different thickas indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein and D represents a door of much less thickness. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the main features of invention in the present case are those features whereby this ready adjustment, or self-adjustment, as I may term it, is attained.

In the preferred form shown in the drawings, the main body of the cylinder lock is provided at or near the rear end with a head 8, said head having passages for guide pins 9 9. These guide pins are secured in any suitable manner to the base 4 of the case 'from the latch case 1.

11 is what I will term a combined finishing piece and keeper. This piece. provides a trim or finishing for the outer end et the passage through thev door in which 'the lock stands, and itI may also perform 'the func` tion of al keeper in that the lock is held thereby against movement in and out when the parts are assembled. This leeper, in its preferred form, comprises a cylindrical sleeve portion having spurs lQ-l2, which, before the finishing piece is applied, are bent back as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, but which, when applied, may be bentI out and driven into the wood, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to hold said piece rigidly in -place. Th'le face-plate 7 of the lock is provided at its edge withmeans to interlock with the keeper 11. In the present instance this means 7comprises a bayonet. joint in which the"angnlar slot element is formed in the periphery of the part 7 as indicated at lll. The: pin element for co-action with the slot 1'4, in this instance, is carried by the keeper 11, and is indicated at 15. In the present instance, two pins and two slots are indicated, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5. A

16 is a spring which is preferably proi vided bet-Ween the base i and the inner end of the lock part, said spring normally operating to push the lock oitwardly on the guide pins 9 9, at the Isame time permitting said lock element to slide inwardly thereon in the event of pressure applied against the outer end of the ldck. l

In operation, when the mechanism is ready to be applied. all the parts are assembled as a unit, the lock part being extendedto its limit on the guide pins 16 to adapt the locks to doors of maximum thickness ;4 for example, as shown in Fig. 1. To apply the mechanism, a hole of the proper size is first bored in the door at the proper place. The keeper element 11 is then applied. The combined'latch and lock is then applied, the lock being inserted through the passage from the inner side of the door until the open ends of the slots 14 pass over the pins 15. A partial turn of the lock case 1 imparts a corresponding movement to the lock element so that the pins 15 will enter` the lateral extensions of the slots'lll and stand, for example, as shown in Flgs. 1, 2

and' 5. The lock case 1 may then be secured to the door by the use of wood screws. and the apparatus is at once ready for use.

I have shown in Fig. 1 the lock applied to a door of the maximum thickness to which the particular lock shown is adapted. In Fig. 2 I have shown a door D of the minimum thickness to which said lock is adapted. In this latter instance, the appa4 ratns is applied in precisely the sana'- nay as above, with this exception. llvhen the lock element. is attached to the keeper 11. the case 1 .is pushed still farther forward (the spring 1G collapsing frcelyl until said lock case rests against the inner surface of the door, to which it is then secured in the usual manner. Obviously, the particular mechanism shown is adapted to doors ci any thickness whatever between two wide limits, the ad justment of the same being etiected simultaneously with the mere act of applying the mechanism to the door, and wit-hout any specialpre-adjustment. llhen the partsare finally in position, the 4lock element is held against endwise movement; for example, pressure inward, by the pins 15, which rigidly hold said said lock element in its fixed position, exposing the outer-end thereof always at the proper position at the outer y the proper posi-tion.

In the present form of the construction. as shown in the drawings, the so-called plug is located centrally in the face plate so that said lock may be reversed relatively to thc night latch mechanism for the purpose of adapting the assembled mechanism to either a right or a left hand door. To effect reversibility, it is merely necessary to remove the screws which hold the plate 10 in position, whereupon the lock. guide pins4 and plate may be reversed or turned over and re-applied. Since the plug is in the center, it is obvious that this reversal ot' the parts will not disturb the position ot the key-controlled spindle which projects rcar- Wardly from the key-controlled plug. as would be the case were the plug located in the face plate eccent-rically.

It will be understood that I have shown only the preferred form of means for holdling the keeper in place, and it will also be observed .that in the construction shown. when the lock element stands within the keeper, it will prevent the spurs from being dislodged, since it will act substantially as an abutment directly to the rear ot' cach ot' said spurs and holding the same in place.

What I claim is: i

' 1. In a mechanism of the character described, a night latch,` a key-controlled lock carried by the back of said night latch cooperating therewith and movable toward and from the same, guiding means. and a keeper independent of the night latch and arranged to be carried by the door, with. means for interlocking said4 lock with said keeper when the former is in its proper keeper arranged to be carried by the door, l

with means for interlocking said lock with said keeper when the former is in its proper position, said interlocking means being operable by a rotary movement of said lock.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, a night latch, a key-controlled lock carriedby the back of said night latch cooperating therewith and movable toward and from the same, guiding means, anda keeper arranged to be carried by the door, with-means for interlocking said lock with said keeper when the former is in its proper position, said interlocking means being operable bya partial rotation of said lock.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, a night latch,.a lock, guiding means operatively connecting said lock with the back of said latch and permitting said lock to slide thereon 'toward and from said night latch, operative means of connection between the night latch mechanism and said lock, a. keeper arranged to be secured to the door, and means for interlocking said lock mechanism with said keeper when'said lock stands in its proper position relatively to the door, said night latch mechanismstill being movablev toward and from the door independently of any movement of the lck mechanism tov enable said mechanism to be applied to doors of different thicknesses.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, a night latch, a key-controlled lock carried by the back of said night latch cooperating therewith and movable towardand from the same, guiding means, a keeper arranged to be carried by the door, with means for interlocking said lock with said keeper when the former is in its proper position, and yielding means for moving said lock outwardly on said guide.

6. In a mechanism of thecharacter described, a night latch, a lkey-controlled lock carried by the back of said night latch cooperating therewithy and movable toward and from the same, guiding means, a keeper arranged to be carried by the door, with means for interlocking said lock with said keeper when the former is in its proper position, and yielding means for moving said lock outwardly on said guide, said means comprising a spring arranged between said lock and said latch;

7. In a mechanism of the character described, a night latch, ya key-controlled lock carried by the back of said night latch coposition, said lock y and having a central operating'l therewith :and `.movable toward and from l.the same, guiding means, and a keeperindependent ofl the night -latchand arranged to be carried by the door, with means for interlocking said lock with said keeper when the former is in itsproper tively to said night latch.

8. In a mechanism ofthe character de-` scribed, a night latch, a key-controlled lock carried thereby and coperating therewith and having av central rotatable key -plug with means for directly connecting said key being reversible rela-l plug with the night latch mechanism, said lock being reversible relatively to the latch, said reversibility being eected on the aXis of said plug, and guiding means for holding said lock and plug in correct alinement with said latch mechanism in both positions of adjustment, said lock being slidable on said guide means toward and from 4the back of the latch whereby said mechanism may be applied to doors of differentthicknesses.

9. In a mechanism of the character' described, a night latch, a key-controlled lock carried thereby and cooperating therewith rotatable key plug, with means for directly connecting said key plug with-the night latch mechanism, said lock being reversible relatively to the latch, said reversibility being efected on the axis of said plug, guiding means for holdin' said lock and plug in correct alineme'nt wit said llatch mechanism in both positions of adjustment, said lock being slidable on said guide means toward and from the back of the latch whereby said mechanism may be applied to doors of different thicknesses, and a keeper arranged to interlock with the body of said. lock when the latter is in its proper position, with means for securing saidI keeper to a door.

10. In a mechanism of the character described, 'a night. latch, a key-controlled lock carried thereby and coperating therewith and having a central rotatable key plug, with means for directly conecting said key plug with the night latch mechanism, said lock being reversible relatively to the latch, said reversibility being effected on the axis of said plug, guiding means for holding said lock and plug in correct lalinement with said latch mechanism in both positions of adjustment, said lockbeing slidable on said guide means toward and from the back of the latch 'whereby said applied to doors of dierent thicknesses, and a keeper arranged to interlock with the body of said lock when the latter is in its proper position, with means for securing said keeper' to a door, said means comprising integral spurs carried by said keeper.

11. In a mechanism o the character described, a night latch, carried by the back of said night latch comechanism may be a key-controlled lock operating therewith and -movable iowa-rd tion oversl'mlding said menus in prevent the and freni the saune, `guiding mea-ns, n keeper \\'i`rhdr:z\val of the sume when the parts are arranged to be carried by the door` with assembled. means for interlocking said lock with said HENRY G. VOIGHT. keeper when the former ,is in its proper 'itnesses: A p0siti0n,'and means for holding the keeper E. E. MORSE,

in place on said door, part of said lock por- CHAS. A. PEAnDY, 

